Double delight for new Springboks

FOUR of the Sharks players who helped their team to victory over Western Province in Saturday's thrilling Currie Cup final had double cause for celebration when the Springbok squad to tour the UK was announced.

FOUR of the Sharks players who helped their team to victory over Western Province in Saturday's thrilling Currie Cup final had double cause for celebration when the Springbok squad to tour the UK was announced.

Patrick Lambie, the mastermind behind Saturday's 30-10 win, standout wing Lwazi Mvovo, fleet-footed flank Keegan Daniel and powerhouse fellow flank Willem Alberts were all called up to the national team for the first time.

They will join teammates and Bok regulars Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira, brothers Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis and Ryan Kankowski in the 29-man squad that will start the tour with a match against Ireland on November 6.

Lock Alistair Hargreaves also gets a chance to add to his two caps. It means nine members of the Sharks squad that ran out for the final will go on the Grand Slam tour.

Daniel's inclusion was one that especially delighted coach John Plumtree after the disappointment of being left out of the recent Springbok training squad.

Daniel, who was often criticised as being too small for a flank, had a phenomenal season and finished high on the try-scoring charts with eight tries.

"This season I made a decision to ignore factors that I can't control, like selection, to enjoy each game," the player said recently.

Springbok Tour squad is:

Backs: Gio Aplon, Bjorn Basson), Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers), Francois Hougaard, Bryan Habana, Elton Jantjies, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, Frans Steyn, Morne Steyn,

Forwards: Willem Alberts, Bakkies Botha,

Schalk Burger, Keegan Daniel, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Alistair Hargreaves, Ryan Kankowski, Victor Matfield (captain), Tendai Mtawarira, Coenie Oosthuizen , Chiliboy Ralepelle, Juan Smith,

Pierre Spies, Adriaan Strauss, CJ van der Linde and Flip van der Merwe.